Visma acquires majority stake in pathway solutions

Visma has increased its ownership in the Hamburg-based accounting startup pathway solutions from 33 percent to 78 percent, marking a significant step toward full acquisition. The European software group first invested in the company in 2024 as a minority shareholder and now holds a majority stake, with plans to acquire the remaining shares by 2027. The transaction details, including purchase price and valuation, were not disclosed. Founders Marco Feelisch and Ludwig Eisenblätter will continue to lead the company, and the Hamburg location will remain operational. pathway solutions provides automated accounting solutions for e-commerce and SaaS businesses, integrating sales channels, payment providers, and marketplaces with accounting systems such as DATEV.

The platform supports over 4,000 companies and more than 1,000 tax offices across Germany and Austria. Since Visma's initial investment in 2024, the number of connected tax offices has more than tripled. In 2026 alone, the platform added over ten new marketplace integrations, including Otto, Kaufland, Zalando, About You, and Shopapotheke. The company currently employs 25 people. The acquisition aligns with growing demand for automation in the tax consulting sector, where staffing shortages are increasing pressure on firms. According to the ifo Institute, 64.7 percent of legal and tax advisory firms report difficulties in finding qualified personnel.

Automated solutions like those offered by pathway solutions help tax consultants process large volumes of transaction data more efficiently, enabling them to take on additional clients without proportionally increasing staff. The company reports that connected tax offices have already secured new mandates previously declined due to capacity constraints, though specific figures on time savings or client growth were not provided. Startbase reported the story.